Can next Bihar CM ever have global vision like Norway Or be content with Human Chain?

80% of our planet's land-based animals and plants live in forest. Also, it could be right to some extent in mentioning that more than 80% of humans live in a planned infrastructure zones, the deforested zone. The animals living in forest need not depend on us but humans definitely depend on forest for survival of its species. All the fresh amount of oxygen that we breather comes from forest. Forest trees play a critical role in absorbing pollutants and greenhouse gases, in return keeping the air quality breathable and safeguarding our environment. 

Forest areas hold an immense amount of carbon dioxide. When humans cut down trees in order to utilize the deforested land for farming purpose and then burn the wood containing huge deposit of carbon, there is a massive release of carbon dioxide. Considering the dramatic climatic conditions globally, people are now slowly becoming aware of an impact carbon dioxide has on the climate change patterns. 

Countries with high deforestation rate are not only becoming the major contributors of total tropical deforestation but also the highest contributors of carbon emissions in the past two decades. Luckily, Norway has emerged as a Green Warrior by investing millions of dollars to restrict deforestation in Brazil, Liberia and Indonesia. Why we emphasize Norway? It is because of the country's futuristic vision in progressing with developmental goals while still keeping in mind not to create an imbalance between nature and its inhabitants. Norway has a history of protecting our planet's essential forests. 

According to the Green Matters website, in 2008, Norway helped Brazil with $1 Billion to help fight Amazon rain-forest basin deforestation issue. The results of this act paid with large dividends as within the next decade 33,000 sq. miles of Amazon Rainforest area was saved which in return helped in the zone becoming a large carbon sink for 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. It is these one-step when taken globally as a considerable planet friendly investment opportunities, becomes a benchmark for big companies and nations to follow. Today MNC's and big conglomerates are doing their best in curbing the use and procurement of goods and materials that have an adverse impact on environment, biodiversity as well as the global rainforest zones. 

Leading from front, countries like Norway, Germany and the UK have pledged to "promote national commitments that encourage deforestation-free supply chains, including through public procurement policies to sustainably procure commodities such a palm oil, soy, beef and timber." Such acts speaks volumes of the mind-set and thought-process of a nation's effective commitment in executing the policies and not just limit them to papers. 

Countries, continents and also States within a country, as well as local level authorities and Government Bodies should adopt zero-deforestation commitments if they want people of their voting region to believe on their efforts and commitment to bring change in the standard of living, standard of lifestyle, standard of hygiene and sanitation, and standard of their Governance. 

Elections in Bihar for the Chief Minister's post is due in a couple of months. Bihar continues to be ravaged by floods and the conditions of its hospitals are not worth mentioning. If a Government Authority, or a Member of Legislative Assembly, or a Party President do not feel comfortable to be admitted to these hospitals then how do they expect any citizen of their State to get themselves admitted without an outcry. Deforestation in the catchment areas have led to repeated floods in Bihar. It is to be seen among candidates, their vision is limited to construction of roads and provision of electricity, or will they also have global level vision that will form the basis of safeguarding our environment whilst also generating employment opportunities?

For updates Follow us on Facebook: 

Note: The views expressed in the article are solely of the writer 

Image: user:Gellinger (pixabay.com)